I'm Glad to Know You

In this season of thankfulness, let’s consider friends and acquaintances.”  When we are first introduced to someone we say, “I’m happy to meet you.” When we get more acquainted it’s easy to say, “I’m glad to know you.”

Today, two unexpected examples turned up: First, I answered my cell phone and heard my older neighbor say, “We’re locked out of our house- - - could you call a locksmith to help us?”

I was happy to help, but it was a challenge. This was Saturday on a holiday weekend, and we don’t live in a metropolis so options were limited. I called two places, got answering machines, and left my number.

Then it dawned on me that my neighbors were waiting outside their home on a very cold day! I invited them in to stay warm, and she came over immediately. He came later, but she volunteered to talk to the next locksmith. She got another answering machine but left her number.

Nearly thirty minutes had gone by with no callbacks. I was wondering what to do when I thought of our Associate Pastor. He had been of help to my Goddaughter; maybe he could help me. I called and asked if he knew a locksmith. He kindly looked up the number of one who had helped our church.

The locksmith he recommended said he was sorry their mobile man was off today, but he referred me to “Jimmy” at another company. My neighbor called and was told Jimmy could come immediately . . . which he did!

I was sending a thank you text to our Associate Pastor when a scripture came to mind.

In my New King James Version of the Bible, the heading for Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 is “The Value of a Friend.” Verses nine and ten say: Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.

How many times have I received help from a friend? In how many different ways? How about you?

It’s always appropriate to be thankful. Take a little time to reflect on the value of friends, and be glad you are more than acquaintances.

Your Thanks and Mine

It’s always nice to give thanks. When I was fighting cancer, part of my bedtime ritual was to thank God for ten good things that happened that day, no matter how small.

Being positive is good for your health. To me, being thankful is just part of having a cheerful heart, which is like good medicine *(Proverbs 17:22, NLT).

Saying “thank you” makes human relationships run smoother. Do you try to say these words of appreciation to the people closest to you? Or do you take them for granted?

What about people who serve you in various capacities, like food servers, mechanics, sales associates, doctors, nurses, medical technicians, or teachers? We could go on and on, but people who help you may differ from the ones who help me.

How many people have assisted you in some way this week? Were you a grumpy receiver, or were you pleasant enough to say, “Thank you for your help?”

America is not the only country to have a Thanksgiving Day, but our history should matter to us. **A Thanksgiving proclamation was made by President George Washington in 1789 per a request from Congress. It was celebrated intermittently until 1863 when President Lincoln proclaimed a day of “Thanksgiving and Praise” on the last Thursday in November.” It was declared a permanent holiday by Congress in 1942.

It’s great to have a special day, but giving thanks to God, as well as to people, should be an everyday affair. Psalm 107:1 (NLT) says, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

Four times the psalmist repeated this phrase: “Let them praise the LORD for His great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them”  (verses 8, 15, 21, and 31).

Has God done any wonderful things in your life? Think about it. That’s where your thanks and mine will differ. God created us as individuals in our mother’s womb and continues to see us that way throughout our lives.

Don’t wait. Become aware of giving thanks- - - starting today!

*Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, and 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.

**Thanksgiving (United States), Wikipedia. 

Calendar, New Year's Day, Sylvester Image, Geralt, Pixabay.

What Can You Trust?

A friend and I had a good laugh over a recent text message. After sharing an answer to prayer, her closing comment was, “Our Lord does work in mysterious ways.” At least that’s what she meant to say.  

The message I received said, “Our Lord does work in mistletoe ways.” I was pondering the mistletoe message when she texted her correction. 

I have learned to check my auto-correct. I’ve sent garbled messages with one-word changes, too. Modern technology is supposed to make life easier, but it doesn’t.

In the past two weeks, I’ve spent hours with one tech company, trying to update my accounts. I have two-step verification with several companies, but theirs seemed unusually challenging.

Technology is here to stay. My husband used to say, “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken.” I try, but always being told to go “online” is simply tiresome.

When E-books came out, publishers thought they’d lose a lot of money. Time proved people still preferred the printed page. That’s me! I like to pick up a book, read it, lay it down, and pick it up later. So easy! 

The best seller of all time still remains popular in print. I can read scriptures on my cell phone, but I have a satisfying *hard-cover study Bible. It comes complete with explanatory notes, cross-references, a concordance, Bible charts, and maps.

Since childhood, I have read, studied, and trusted God’s Word. He gives a lovely illustration of its trustworthiness in Isaiah 55:8-11 (NLT). I’ve always relied on verse eleven: **It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it (NLT).

The King James Version says: ***It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (KJV).

In our fast-paced, ever-changing world, it’s nice to have something we can trust. I have put my hope in God’s Word more times than I could ever tell. There is one thing I can say, however, “God always keeps His Word.”  

*Life Application Study Bible is an edition of the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers, 2007. All Rights Reserved.

**Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright . . . 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by Permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, IL 60188. All Rights Reserved.

***King James Version, YouVersion app.

Pixabay Illustration, Trust, Reveal Identity, John Hain

 

Friends are Foundational

Some people say friends are the spice of life. To me, these are the lighthearted moments when we enjoy an activity together or laugh at a shared pithy quip or humorous quote. They're the feathers that give lift to our relational wings.

But I think foundational friends are needed more often than that. They’re the ones who don’t brush us off in the hard spots of life when we’d prefer to say, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” Or, “I’ll think about it later.”

Life is not always that easy on us. We have to keep going and foundational friends stick right with us. When we complete the project, pass the test, or fulfill the assignment they join in our rejoicing.

The Apostle Paul had a habit of naming his friends at the end of his letters. Consider, for example, the friends named at the end of his letter to Colosse (Colossians 4:7-15, NLT):

Tychicus, beloved brother, faithful helper

Onesimus, also a beloved brother

Aristarchus, a fellow prisoner

Mark, a cousin of Barnabas

The one we call Justus sends greetings

Epaphras, a prayer warrior

Luke, the beloved doctor

Demas also sends greetings

Greet Nymphas and her house church

Tell Archippus to continue to carry out his ministry

I could easily name eight or ten friends who are foundational in my life. I’m sure they prefer their names remain private, but a foundational friend is the reason you are getting this blog right now. She knows more about computers than I do, and while I’m trying to learn more about technology, she’s got me covered.

Friends both local and out of town, longtime and new, call now and then to see how I’m doing. That’s always a nice morale boost. And lunches out or dinners at home with family and/or friends give a lift through a break in my routine.

I see a lot of love in these foundational friends. I Corinthians 13:4, NLT says, “Love is patient and kind.” What could be more foundational than that?

On that basis, who would you name as foundational friends?

Illustration: "Friendship" from Pixabay

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by Permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188, All rights reserved.